Planning Comm MINS 11-07-2012CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PLANNING COMMISSION
November 7, 2012 Hylebos Conference Room
7:00 p.m. Council Chambers
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Merle Pfeifer, Hope Elder, Sarady Long, Lawson Bronson, and Tim O'Neil.
Commissioners absent: Tom Medhurst (excused) and Wayne Carlson (unexcused). Staff present: Planning
Manager Isaac Conlen, Principal Planner Margaret Clark, Assistant City Attorney Peter Beckwith, and
Administrative Assistant lI Tina Piety.
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Pfeifer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Bronson moved (and it was seconded) to approve the minutes of October 17, 2012, with
the modification that Vice -Chair Medhurst called the meeting to order, not Chair Pfeifer as stated. There
was no discussion and the motion passed unanimously.
AUDIENCE COMMENT
None
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Planning Manager Conlen announced the next meeting will be December 5, 2012; if the item is ready. It
will be a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Federal Way Revised Code (FWRC)
regarding urban agriculture. Discussion was held on what date the next meeting will take place if the item
is not ready for December 5`h. Due to the holidays, the Commission decided the next meeting will be
January 17, 2013.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
PUBLIC HEARING — 2012 Comprehensive Plan Amendments
Principal Planner Clark delivered the staff report. Proposed amendments to the Federal Way Comprehensive
Plan (FWCP) include:
Changes to the text of Chapter 1, "Introduction ", and Chapter 2, "Land Use," related to
urban agriculture.
Two citizen- initiated requests for a comprehensive plan amendment and rezone.
Earlier this year, the city received a grant in the form of technical assistance from Forterra and has
worked with them to develop the language, goals, and policies related to urban agriculture. Forterra is a
nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, enhance and steward our region's communities and
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Planning Comnission Minutes Page 2 November, 7, 2012
landscapes. They work to build the foundations for sustainable environmental and economic futures.
Forterra is in the process of preparing the code amendments to implement the proposed FWCP goals and
policies. The amendments to the chapters consist of adding language pertaining to urban agriculture and
access to healthy opportunities where appropriate. Skye Schell of Forterra commented they received
feedback from the community when developing the proposed amendments. Ms. Clark commented that the
city is receiving more requests for urban gardens. The state requires that the city's comprehensive plan
has policies in place for requirements in the zoning code. This step will provide those policies. The next
step is amendments to the zoning code, which will come to the Commission at their next meeting. The
proposed amendments do not include definitions, but Ms. Clark stated that urban agriculture includes
community gardens, home garden, pea patches, urban farms, farm stands, cottage food processing, school
garden, farmers markets, and drop -off sites; and explained each one. Afterwards she described the two
site - specific requests.
The meeting was opened for public comment.
Steve Cleary — He commented he is following the progress of the Hoit Site - Specific Request
because he has a vested interest in the outcome. He owns property adjacent to the site.
Ping Chen — He is visiting different jurisdictions' Planning Commission meetings. He feels
this is the best meeting so far due to the staff report and professionalism of the
Commissioners. He feels welcome at the meeting. He asked if it would be correct to say the
Planning Commission is in favor of "down zoning."
Chair Pfeifer replied that the Commission is not in- or out -of favor of "down zoning." Each
amendment that comes to the Commission is judged on its own merits. The Commissioners
listen and read the staff report and take into account the staff recommendation and their own
knowledge to arrive at a decision they feel is best for the citizens and the city as a whole.
Public comment was closed.
Commissioner O'Neil noted that the Hoit property is basically landlocked. If they were to join with the
neighboring property, and the site - specific request is granted, the site would have access and enough
buildable land for at least one residence. The Commission decided they would vote upon each aspect of
the proposed amendments separately. Assistant City Attorney Beckwith commented that they can do this,
but the entire proposed amendments must move forward as one unit. Commission Bronson moved (and it
was seconded) to recommend approval of the staff recommendation for the Hoit Site - Specific Request.
There was no further discussion and the motion carried unanimously.
The Commission began their discussion of the proposed urban agricultural amendments to FWCP
chapters 1 and 2. Commissioner Bronson expressed his concern that there are no definitions of the types
of urban agriculture; there is only a chart listing the types. Principal Planner Clark replied that definitions
will be part of the upcoming proposed amendments to the FWRC. Commissioner Bronson commented
that he is uneasy with the idea of sending these proposed amendments forward without definitions.
Without definitions, it is unclear exactly what is meant by urban agriculture.
Commissioner Bronson commented that he is not clear why these amendments for urban agriculture are
being proposed. The city already allows various types of urban agriculture, so why the proposed
amendments? Principal Planner Clark commented that while the city does allow some urban agriculture
on a case -by -case basis, there are no regulations in the FWRC for urban agriculture. The proposed
amendments will put policies into the FWCP, which staff can then use to develop regulations for the
FWRC. Commissioner Bronson commented that he does not see the need to add more regulations since
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farmers markets are already allowed through temporary uses. Adding more language to the FWCP and
FWRC would just mean the staff would have to spend more time maintaining and amending that
language as needed. Principal Planner Clark stated that the proposed amendments will give predictability
to staff and citizens. Commissioner O'Neil moved (and it was seconded) to recommend approval of the
staff's recommendation as written for amendments to the FWCP chapters 1 and 2 regarding urban
agriculture. There was no further discussion. The motion carried with one no and four yeses.
Commission Bronson moved (and it was seconded) to recommend approval of the staff recommendation
for the Barrett/Lindberg Site- Specific Request. There was no further discussion and the motion carried
with four yes and one abstain (Commissioner Elder abstained because in the past she had monetary
interest in the property in question).
The public hearing was closed.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None
ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
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